I don’t know how many other writers do it this way but I see a movie in my head. I see the setting, meet the characters, I hear the dialogue, I watch whole scenes play out, and if I think the movie in my head is good, I start writing it as a book.
Scott MacDonald – 25 June 2018
The Back Flap
Megan Brandt was a shy, lonely teenager secretly in love with a boy in school who didn’t even know she existed. It’s a common scenario that many young girls face and the resolution is typically something simple, like a makeover. Megan’s solution, however, was a little less prosaic than that. She chose to enter into a contract to have her wish fulfilled magically by a bitter and alcoholic 132yr. old Gypsy fortuneteller with a lot of unresolved anger issues.
A makeover would’ve been so much easier.
Years later, long after the wish had been made, the time had finally come for the people involved to seek out each other and understand the truth of what really happened on that one miraculous night.
About the book
What is the book about?
It’s about a magical solution to a common problem; unrequited love. The book follows the fallout from what should’ve been a simple wish made on a star, eighteen years after it was made and how it impacted the lives of everyone involved. Nick Janke is set on a path to discover the identity of the girl whose wish rescued him from a lifetime of infirmity after a terrible accident that took place at the local county fair when he was a teenager. It’s a story of magic, friendship, love, forgiveness and the true cost of wishing on stars. It’s also very funny throughout.
When did you start writing the book?
About five years ago and finished it almost two years ago.
How long did it take you to write it?
About three years. It was my first book so I had to learn everything from scratch.
Where did you get the idea from?
I just dreamed it up while running various magical scenarios in my head. Wishing on stars is an established fantasy concept so I wanted to approach it from a new perspective. Rather than follow what happened immediately after the wish was made, I wanted to pick up the story long afterwards. I felt that would make for a more interesting tale. That way, no one would have any idea what could possibly have taken place so long after the fact.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I’m struggling more with my current book than I did with this one.
What came easily?
Pretty much all of it. There was some time lost to indecision and/or writer’s block but, overall, To Wish Upon a Star was a relatively easy and painless birth. It took as long as it did because I was learning as I went. Given the enthusiastic reader reviews I’ve received on the book’s Amazon landing page, it was time well spent.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Not the people so much as the setting. Most of the story takes place in the small town rural community of Maple Mill. Maple Mill is taken directly from my own hometown of Dunkirk, NY. Even the county fair in the story mirrors the county fair where I grew up. The main characters in the story, however, all exist only in my mind.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I don’t read as much as I used to due to worsening vision issues. I’m legally blind in my right eye so reading a physical book is pretty much out of the question. However, I still try to get some reading in on my computer. Some of my favorite authors include Clive Barker — a man who can paint pictures with words. You can’t love fantasy without loving Neil Gaiman. I also love Roald Dahl’s books. Whatever his failings as a man may have been, he was a wonderful storyteller. I loved A Confederacy of Dunces so much and sometimes wonder what other books John Kennedy Toole could have written had he lived beyond his 30s.
Do you have a target reader?
Anyone who wants to have fun reading a great story. I’m not a writer whose work will change the world or win prestigious literary awards, I strive to be the guy about whom people say, “Have you read Scott MacDonald’s latest book? I loved it!”
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I don’t know how many other writers do it this way but I see a movie in my head. I see the setting, meet the characters, I hear the dialogue, I watch whole scenes play out, and if I think the movie in my head is good, I start writing it as a book. I’ll make story notes and do a simple outline to keep things clear and establish flow but, basically, I transcribe the movie in my head onto paper so everyone else can read it and see the same movie in their heads.
Weird, I know but it seems to work for me.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Chapter headings and a few sentences are usually enough to keep me on track.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
As I go.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I did hire a pro for this book but I wound up using only about 1/3 of her suggestions. Does that mean I should ask for 2/3 of my money back? Her input was helpful but so far, she’s made more money off this book than I have. That grates on me.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I have to focus when I write, music would distract me but if I did, it would mostly be classic rock from the 70s-80s.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
When I was 12 years old I stepped on a nail. I consider that to have been less painful than soliciting an agency for representation. I have tried and that’s how I know. If you’re a talented writer then agency representation simply comes down to luck. The question is; how long are you willing to keep your work on hold while you beat the bushes looking for an agent? Self-publishing will see your work in print at any time, you just have to understand that ALL promotion will be up to you.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was gradual. It came down to a simple decision; do I keep doing this hoping to get lucky with an agency one day, or do I do it myself and make the work available while I strive to get it found by an audience? I knew either way would be difficult but I went with the latter.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Both. I did it myself and I have a professional background in digital graphics. I wanted to create an image that was at a pivotal moment in the story using simple, flat imagery. I also created an alternate cover which I might still use in the future.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
This is my first book so, consequently, this is my first time marketing a book too. I had to learn as I went while writing it and I’m doing likewise to market it. To this end, I created a Facebook page that almost a dozen people follow and a blog that no one follows.
Man, obscurity sucks but ya gotta start somewhere.
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/scottbookz/
Blog – http://storysmac.blogspot.com/
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Prepare for the long haul and remember, writing the book is the easy part.
About You
Where did you grow up?
Dunkirk — it’s a small town in upstate New York.
Where do you live now?
Winter Springs, FL
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’m convinced I was a ham sandwich in a previous life. Winston Churchill ate me for lunch one day while preparing for the Battle of Britain. I also had an awesome UFO sighting in 1989 that I still think is the coolest thing that ever happened to me.
What are you working on now?
It’s called Romance & Adventure, it’s a paranormal romance with a Hollywood setting. After that, I was thinking of writing a cookbook with a murder mystery subplot.
Now you’re wondering, “Is he serious?”
End of Interview:
Get your copy of To Wish Upon a Star from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
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